Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Lansing – According to newly released FEC reports obtained by the Associated Press, Pete Hoekstra’s campaign for U.S. Senate is in serious trouble. In an attempt to bury the announcement of his fundraising totals, Hoekstra posted on his Facebook page late last Friday night that he had raised $700,000 during the quarter. No official press release or comment was made by his campaign, although his lackluster total was reported on by both national and Michigan outlets.

But what “Penny-Pinching” Pete didn’t mention on his Facebook page is that reports revealed today show that he had actually brought in only $695,000 since the start of 2012…and that he spent a whopping $677,000 of it, blowing nearly everything he brought in. In spite of having almost no campaign presence around Michigan, Pete “Spend-it-Not” has magically turned into Pete “Spends All He’s Got”.

“It looks like Pete Hoekstra is spending like a drunken sailor,” said Mark Brewer, Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. “While I’m sure divisive Super Bowl ads are expensive to make, it’s clear that if Hoekstra can’t keep spending under control on his own campaign, there’s no way he’ll be able to deal with the struggling economy in Michigan or effectively advocate for middle class families.”

One of Hoekstra’s main expenditures during the first quarter of 2011 was a divisive Super Bowl ad that was heavily criticized even by fellow Republicans. The ad caused a surge in Senator Stabenow’s fundraising and suppressed Hoekstra’s fundraising. Hoekstra’s mismanagement has set his campaign off to a rocky start to the election year.

Hoekstra’s $695,000 quarter is less than half of what was raised by Senator Stabenow (over $1.5 million) and a significant decrease from the $983,000 Hoekstra was able to raise in the last quarter of 2011.

Clark Durant, Hoekstra’s leading opponent for the Republican nomination, reported raising $558,000 and spending $234,000. According to the Associate Press, Durant now has $1.51 million on hand, practically matching Hoekstra’s on hand total of $1.54 million.